Improve surface water quality (chemical) - other Avoid substances with a high BOD entering watercourses Prevent manure from entering watercourses Reduce the amount of manure washed off fields into watercourses Decrease surface run-off / increase infiltration Arable land is left with a rough surface following operations such as ploughing, discing or tine cultivation
Improve soil structure on grassland Undertake mechanical field operations on grassland when the soil is waterlogged
Increase soil organic matter on grassland
Loosen compacted soil layers on grassland
Avoid mechanical field operations on grassland when the soil is waterlogged
Loosen compacted soil layers on arable land Shallow spiking, slitting or subsoiling
Reduce soil compaction Avoid tramlines over winter
Use low ground pressure tyres/wheels on machinery
Zero tillage
Undertake mechanical field operations on arable land when the soil is waterlogged
Avoid mechanical field operations on arable land when the soil is waterlogged
Reduced poaching by livestock Regularly change the position of supplementary feeders
Reduce overflows from livestock water troughs Ball-valves on livestock water troughs are damaged and/or not correctly set
Ensure ball-valves on livestock water troughs are not damaged and are correctly set
Avoid unsuitable supplementary feeding
Reduce livestock stocking rates
Prevent / reduce the creation of flow pathways Avoid tramlines over winter
Tramlines run across slopes where practical not down slopes leading to a watercourse
Cultivate and drill across the slope
Reduce topsoil saturation (waterlogging) Install artificial sub-surface drains
Increase in earthworm population Minimal tillage
Reduce soil compaction Avoid tramlines over winter
Use low ground pressure tyres/wheels on machinery
Zero tillage
Undertake mechanical field operations on arable land when the soil is waterlogged
Avoid mechanical field operations on arable land when the soil is waterlogged
Reduced poaching by livestock Regularly change the position of supplementary feeders
Reduce overflows from livestock water troughs Ball-valves on livestock water troughs are damaged and/or not correctly set
Ensure ball-valves on livestock water troughs are not damaged and are correctly set
Avoid unsuitable supplementary feeding
Reduce livestock stocking rates
Zero tillage
Improve soil structure on arable land Minimal tillage
Zero tillage
Undertake mechanical field operations on arable land when the soil is waterlogged
Loosen compacted soil layers on arable land Shallow spiking, slitting or subsoiling
Avoid mechanical field operations on arable land when the soil is waterlogged
Increase soil organic matter on arable land Incorporate crop residues Minimal tillage
Zero tillage
Do not burn crop residues
Include a grass/clover ley during the rotation
Incorporation of FYM into arable land
Reduce soil organic carbon oxidation on arable land Convert grassland to arable (by ploughing)
Zero tillage
Minimal tillage
Drain and cultivate peat soils
Cover crop after harvest through the winter
Ensure all stock tracks are well-drained and sited away from watercourses
Locate out-wintered stock and sacrifice areas away from watercourses
Do not store manure in a field liable to flooding or becoming waterlogged
Do not spread fertiliser when the soil is waterlogged, flooded or snow covered or has been frozen for more than 12 hours in the previous 24 hours
Rapid incorporation of FYM and slurry into the soil (24 hours at the latest, preferably within 6 hours of application)
Do not spread manure within 10 metres of surface water
Reduce manure / urine deposition in fields Reduce manure production Increase number of ruminant livestock Convert arable land to extensive grassland
Reduce livestock stocking rates
Reduce the length of the grazing day or grazing season
Restrict livestock access to watercourses
Construct livestock crossings for watercourses regularly used by livestock
Prevent silage effluent from entering watercourses Silage effluent is contained, collected and stored
Reduce the amount of silage effluent washed off fields into watercourses Do not spread silage effluent within 10 metres of surface water
Reduced contamination of watercourse with fuel Lower losses of spilt fuel from the farmyard Fuel spillages are contained Fixed fuel tanks are bunded
Ensure that oil storage facilities are located more than 10m away from a watercourse and/or drain
Prevent/reduce the risk of fuel spillages Ensure that all fuel oil delivery/transfer pipework is maintained and undamaged
Fuel oil pipes are fitted with a tap or valve at the delivery end, which closes automatically when not in use